New chair aims to ‘eliminate racial, ethnic, socioeconomic inequities in health’
Darrell Hudson, MPH ’05, PhD ’09
Health Behavior and Health Education
This article was published before the name of the Department of Health Behavior & Health Education changed to the Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity. Learn more about this change.Returning to the University of Michigan School of Public Health feels like a full-circle moment for Darrell Hudson, MPH ’05, PhD ’09.
As the new chair of the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education (HBHE), Hudson brings with him a profound passion for public health, deeply rooted in his experiences growing up in Detroit. He faced many adversities that would later shape his career in public health.
“Detroit was my first classroom,” said Hudson, who earned a Master of Public Health and a PhD in Health Behavior and Health Education from Michigan Public Health.
The city’s challenges, ranging from poverty and stress to lack of access to fresh food and safe recreational spaces, served as early lessons in social inequities. His firsthand experiences with these challenges in his community and family provided him with a unique perspective on public health.
“I feel a tremendous responsibility to be a voice for people who are not here,” he said.
Having been a student here, I have a great appreciation for the contributions of HBHE faculty, historically and contemporary, and the training for MPH and doctoral students is outstanding. I’d like to continue that legacy.”
One of the defining moments in Hudson’s life came at the age of 19 when he lost three siblings in a house fire.
“I thought to myself—pretty clearly—I can either quit or I can keep moving and make these major contributions," Hudson said.
This tragedy reinforced his commitment to public health and equity, driving him to succeed against the odds.
“I would give up everything that I have to have my siblings back, of course,” Hudson said. “But it made me resilient; it made me driven; it made me determined. It made me not take anything for granted, and it also made me committed to being the voice for others who can’t speak for themselves.”
Hudson’s academic journey began at Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he majored in psychology with aspirations of addressing behavioral health issues. A post-baccalaureate fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) introduced him to public health, sparking his interest in population-level impact. This pivotal experience led him to pursue his advanced degrees at Michigan. His time at NIH and subsequent work in Flint, Michigan, with the Youth Violence Prevention Center deepened his understanding of the social determinants of health.
“It really was about lack of opportunity in terms of education, occupation and transportation—the stressors that kids were under,” he said.
Hudson’s scholarly work focuses on the social determinants of health and how social stressors can impact health outcomes for a wide range of diseases and can drive health inequities from birth and childhood through adulthood. He has authored more than 70 publications, and he and his colleagues have secured over $15 million in research grants and contracts, including from NIH, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Ford Foundation, Russell Sage Foundation, and Missouri Foundation for Health.
As a faculty member at Washington University in St. Louis since 2019, Hudson served as the director of the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Equity, helped lead the university’s cluster hire recruitment initiatives and served on university-wide committees focused on equity. He sits on the board of trustees for the St. Louis Mental Health Board and is a member of the board of directors for CareSTL, which provides essential health services to historically marginalized communities.
“My entire research agenda centers on equity. I like to say that my ultimate goal is to put myself out of business. I want to eliminate racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequities in health. And at this stage of my career, I believe that collective impact is the way to advance health equity.”
Stepping into his new role, Hudson sees tremendous opportunity at Michigan Public Health.
“Coming back to HBHE is one of the highest honors in my professional career,” he said.
Hudson’s vision for the department is clear: to train the next generation of public health leaders who are prepared to tackle issues at multiple levels, from local communities to global health concerns.
“Health is central to everything we do,” he said, highlighting the importance of understanding and addressing the social determinants of health to improve overall well-being.
“I am also excited about the opportunity to work with outstanding colleagues and incredible students who are passionate and highly capable. It’s easy to take for granted how unique of a place Michigan is. It has this overall excellence, it’s a research powerhouse, and the faculty are outstanding while also very collegial. Having been a student here, I have a great appreciation for the contributions of HBHE faculty, historically and contemporary, and the training for MPH and doctoral students is outstanding. I’d like to continue that legacy.”
Reflecting on his career, Hudson said the risks he took early on, such as joining a new, unaccredited program at Washington University gave him invaluable hands-on knowledge and the confidence to lead the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education at Michigan Public Health.
He also takes pride in his contributions to revamping medical curricula to emphasize equity and the social determinants of health, ensuring future medical professionals are well-equipped to understand and address their patients’ broader life contexts.
In August, the name of the department will change to Health Behavior and Health Equity, reflecting the department’s longstanding commitment to and focus on equity. For Hudson, this could not be a better fit.
“My entire research agenda centers on equity,” he said. “I like to say that my ultimate goal is to put myself out of business. I want to eliminate racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequities in health. And at this stage of my career, I believe that collective impact is the way to advance health equity. I believe that with colleagues, students, staff, alumni, and partners within HBHE, throughout the School of Public Health, and beyond, we will continue to make substantial strides toward equity.”